BOS TSO’s detected this .9mm firearm and magazine containing a total of 10 rounds on Monday, May 23, 2022. (TSA Photo)
BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped another passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane on Monday. This was third firearm detected by TSA in less than a week at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
On Monday morning, TSA officers detected a firearm in a man’s carry-on backpack during security screening in Terminal B. TSA immediately alerted the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) who responded and discovered the firearm was loaded with one round chambered and another nine rounds in a magazine. After questioning, MSP seized the firearm and issued the New Hampshire resident a summons. He was then cleared to continue onto Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
“Summer travel season is just about here and it is getting busier at security checkpoints, but our TSA officers continue to do a fantastic job preventing firearms from entering the secure area of the airport,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Carelessly traveling with a loaded firearm is a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. I strongly urge all gun owners to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport.”
Monday’s gun catch was the tenth by TSA officers at a BOS security checkpoint this year, eight of which were loaded. TSA detected 18 firearms at BOS security checkpoints in 2021.
There have been 12 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2022.
TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter.
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.